July 15th is the deadline in which players with the franchise tag are allowed to sign long-term deals. Negotiations continue with Shayne Graham; two weeks remain if the two sides want to settle on a deal that last beyond this season. Otherwise, it's a one-year deal and unrestricted free agency.

The Bengals have the worst uniform, writes Paul Lukas. If there's a more meaningless waste of our time, please let us know. Fashion rankings in the NFL. Sad day for fans of the best sport in the world when we start gossiping about girly things. Moving on.

The USA Today is doing a series that explores the history of ten AFL Franchises in celebration of the league's 50th anniversary. Today? The Cincinnati Bengals and Paul Brown.

Understand, Paul Brown — who led the Browns to seven titles beginning with their AAFC inception in 1946 and entered the Hall of Fame in 1967 — remains an NFL icon and innovator. Face masks on helmets, racial integration, innovative plays — you name it, he did it.

Joe Reedy lists the ESPN Fan Rankings 122 professional franchises in North America -- the Bengals were ranked 118th. Far it be from me to have fans who, for all we know, have never stepped foot in the great (and broke) state of Ohio, to actually have a say on how other teams should be ranked. That would be like us ranking the Dolphins. Or the Clippers.

Dan Skuta is a linebacker -- who we spoke briefly about when the team signed undrafted free agents -- said he feels he'll make an impact with the Bengals (h/t to reader Patrick for the link).

I'm gonna make an impact on special teams right away. You never know what can happen ... I've talked to guys who started the season on the practice squad then ended up starting by the end of the season, so I'll be ready.

AHN's Matthew Harvey writes that Andre Smith will attend training camp; whether he signs or not, saying "while contract negotiations continue, he plans to attend training camp." Right.

Dave, on the other hand, reasonably points out that a holdout could easily be avoided. I agree. It could be. I just don't believe it's likely. Matt says a holdout is coming.

Competition at safety will be very strong. Roy Williams isn't here just to play. He's here to be the best.

“I want to be the best and will take that onto the practice field,” Williams said during the recent minicamp. “I’m going to compete and whatever I do I will try to do at a high velocity. I see all the other guys are like that as well. The competition is great and we will have a great team because everyone is competing for the same jobs and that’s a good thing.”

Scout Inc ranks the Bengals 24th in their recent power rankings.

Adam Hasenmayer ranks running back packages in his latest positional power rankings. The Bengals group led by Cedric Benson ranks 28th.

It remains a mystery to T.J. Houshmandzadeh that when you have confidence, you perform better. Really? Sorry. Houshmandzadeh to me is like a bad breakup after a long relationship. I'm being picky.

Michael Johnson is contributing to Bengals.com while at the rookie symposium. He was really taken in by Willie Brown's stories, which mostly dealt with racism in the 60s. However, one thing you learn is that even though rookies in the NFL seem larger than life, they really are just kids.

"It went fast, but it didn't bother me because I'm kind of a penny pincher," Johnson says. "Actually, I've got less money now than I did last year. In college, everything is pretty much provided for. But now this is the first time I've had to pay rent, buy food, figure out what the utilities are going to be."

Rosenhaus Sports announced Tuesday that NFL super agent Drew Rosenhaus has been hired by the fans of the Florida Panthers to renegotiate season-ticket pricing for the 2009-2010 season.  Drew Rosenhaus also posted a message on his Twitter feed.  Upon reading this, my heart started racing.  Do you think Drew would be willing to come to Cincinnati to discuss fans' concerns with the Bengals and Mike Brown?  Would he be willing to chat live on Cincy Jungle about the prospect of representing Bengal fans?  This could be our big break. 

I couldn't believe that hockey fans were actually smart enough to launch the first formal, class-action fan rebellion in professional sports history.  Then, I looked for more information.   It turns out that hockey fans are not smarter than football fans.  In fact, they may be dumber if they fall for this scam.  Rosenhaus was actually retained by the Panthers as part of a marketing campaign, hence the press release and the Twitter feed.  Yahoo Sports is reporting that the team reached out to Rosenhaus and the team announced that it is indeed part of the team's new "viral" marketing strategy which includes tv and radio commercials.

This sham insults the intelligence of fans everywhere but Drew Rosenhaus has done that before.

+ B. Clifton Burke writes that Dhani Jones could be cut, because he's old and expendable, giving way to a core of younger linebackers. I understand the point of view; this time of year speculation grows about possible veteran cuts. However, the logic to cut Jones is paper thin compared to the reasoning to keep. First of all, he's on the cheap; scheduled to earn $1.2 million in 2009 and $1.25 million in 2010. Second of all, you don't cut the guy that led your team with 165 tackles (53 more than the second-ranked guy), and led the team in forced fumbles. Heck, he made tackles on special teams.

Finally, there is a misconception that the Bengals have a collection of young linebackers. In truth, if you include the unsigned Rey Maualuga, the Bengals will have four linebackers under contract -- and one of them is named Dan Skuta -- in 2010. If a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is signed, and the years of service criteria defines free agents, Rashad Jeanty and Brandon Johnson will be unrestricted -- one, if not both, are gone. If no new CBA is signed, then both players will be restricted free agents again.

The point is that if you cut Jones, you hurt your depth this year and beyond. There's no financial benefit to cutting him -- which is the reasoning behind most player releases. Furthermore, the coaches look to Jones to keep the defense motoring, while Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer raves about him.

“Dhani’s sharp. He handles everything pretty quickly,” Zimmer said. “He tells guys where to line up. He knows the checks. He knows what everybody does on the defense. It’s really nice having a guy like that.”

Marvin Lewis called Jones an extension of Zimmer.

"They've got the same very hard-headed personalities," Lewis said after Friday's second practice. "That's why when they disagree, it's hilarious. It's a matter of how long does it take for Dhani to back down and Zimmer to pull rank."

There's always speculation on veteran cuts this time of year. The age argument often works with veteran players -- but not with Jones. Not right now.

Dave reads the Chickster the riot act.

Brian Leonard thinks that Cincinnati will be a great fit for his skills.

"I'm kind of like a hybrid back, so the team really needs to know how to use me," Leonard said. "I guess St. Louis didn't feel like they could use me, with the kind of skills I had. But Cincinnati is a great fit."

Cincinnati will have a physical secondary, with added experience.

Training Camp is becoming more of an event for fans (do you agree?)

Joe Reedy guesses the depth chart.

More photos » by Tom Uhlman - AP

14 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals' Rey Maualuga takes a break during football practice in Cincinnati Friday June 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

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The Enquirer wrote a piece on Chad's Twittering adventures. It's kind of surprising. That's something you'll expect to see at a blog like Cincy Jungle; but a newspaper?

Kyle Cook spent most of his time last season, while injured, studying and observing.

“Even when I was hurt, I was still sitting in the back of the room paying attention, watching film, seeing what works against these guys and what doesn’t work against these guys. You get to see everything that goes on. You learn the right things and you also learn the wrong things.”

The Bengals offense is still Brat's offense, says Carson Palmer. However, Chick Ludwig points out that we should "look for more shifting and motioning by the wide receivers and running backs in an attempt to create matchup problems for enemy defenses."

Rashad Jeanty praises Rey Maualuga:

"You can tell he’s a middle linebacker,” Jeanty said, “but he’s playing like a strong-side linebacker’s supposed to. He’s tough. He’s sticking his head in there. He’s a guy who reminds me a little of myself.” Jeanty acknowledged the competition will be tough, but he sees nothing wrong with that. “Whoever is not the starter, I’ll tell you, he’s going to be a hell of a backup,” Jeanty said.

In 1988, former defensive back Robert Jackson had "waged" such a contract dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals, that he sat out the entire season and missed Super Bowl XXIII. He torn knee ligaments during a preseason game in 1982, which kept him from playing in Super Bowl XVI. Many years later, he holds no regrets.

"I don't feel cheated by anything that might have been seen as negative in my career," Jackson said. "The injuries, the contract thing while playing in the business of the NFL, was all part of the game. I understand that.

"In 1988, I just felt I was above that normal standard of pro defensive backs. My play and numbers showed I was among the best secondary players in the NFL at that time. I did what I had to do, and the Bengals did what they had to do. The only thing I didn't like was they held my rights and I couldn't go anywhere else."

Dave points out that Central Michigan offensive lineman Joe McMahon is available for July's supplemental draft. It's not that I believe in trends, or karma. However, the last two offensive linemen that we picked up from Central Michigan were Eric Ghiaciuc and Adam Kieft. Just saying.

Irony Note of the Week: Before Ghiaciuc and Kieft, the last player from Central Michigan the Bengals drafted was, Robert Jackson.

More photos » by Tom Uhlman - AP

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The Sporting News Today ran a "Camp Countdown" story today on the Bengals that had multiple themes:

• There is no such thing as a short leash with the Bengals; Marvin Lewis is safe.
• Without Carson Palmer, opponents don't fear the passing game.
• According to an opponent, Marvin Lewis prefers the 4-3 defense but keeps drafting linebackers better suited to the 3-4. The defense can't stop the run, can't rush the passer and has no identity.
• Unless Carson can "energize" the offense, the Bengals will again finish last in the division.
• There is not enough stability on defense to ensure success.

I am actually surprised by the shallow analysis by authors Gerry Dulac, Vinnie Iyer, and Chick Ludwig.  Putting it all on Carson's back or a lack of stability on defense is so easy, but the article fails to cite any off-season upgrades or probe the implications of the lack of an established running back, the inexperience on the offensive line, etc.

On a positive note, the article includes a boxed quote from CBS analyst Phil Simms, who said, "I would be leery of this team.  They stayed competitive last year, even though they didn't have a healthy Carson Palmer and their offense was dreadful.  You look at how hard they played - and with passion.  It's possible they surprise some people this season."  I think that aside from Lapham, Phil may have just became my favorite analyst.

Unfortunately, I think Bengals fans see a last place finish in the cards.  I see that the team is now running ads for ticket packages.  I recently donated two season tickets to a charity for auction and the selling price was less than the price of one ticket alone.  I guess I could blame the economy but it is so much more fun to blame Mike Brown.

B.J. Bethal writes in response to Dave's optimistic post review, "can anyone find the depth chart and name one quality offensive lineman on the roster?" One must define quality. Does quality mean Pro Bowl? Or does it mean a lineman that could start with other teams? What about Andrew Whitworth? Could Bobbie Williams be quality? Even Anthony Collins' brief stint as the starting left tackle were quality enough performances -- and he's projected as the team's first backup offensive tackle. There is quality there. The better question is if the 2009 starting lineup will bring quality performances among the team's offensive line.

But the question isn't about quality right now. The issue is wondering if inexperience will transform into a collective quality.

Williams is the only lineman projected to start at the same spot he started when last season kicked off. Nate Livings is a leading candidate to start at left guard, where he started the final six games last season. Whitworth hasn't started at left tackle since the third week in the 2007 season (though he did take snaps at left tackle against the Eagles in 2008). Kyle Cook has no career starts. Andre Smith has yet to sign his first NFL contract and Anthony Collins -- the tackle that would likely start over Smith if contract negotiations are drawn out -- made all of six career starts at left tackle. The following chart is easy enough to read. Games started isn't total NFL starts; it's games started at that position (Bengals career). Total starts is based on NFL career.

Based simply on position projections that we're led to believe, the Bengals have 96 games worth of starting experience -- however, 80% of that experience is Bobbie Williams. We knew the Bengals were to become an inexperienced offensive line when Eric Ghiaciuc, Stacy Andrews and Levi Jones departed (not offered contract, left for Philly, released). Center Jonathan Luigs was drafted alongside Smith to join Collins and Livings with the team's dedicated effort to rebuild the offensive line around veterans Whitworth and Williams -- who is entering the final year under contract.

Here's the biggest key of all. With the amount of inexperience starting on the Bengals offensive line, I believe it's an unrealistic expectation that the Bengals will become the offensive line of 2005 where Carson Palmer had a career year and Rudi Johnson set the franchise rushing record. It might be unrealistic to expect a 17-sack allowed season like 2007. There will be growing pains. And it's very likely that the Bengals will have to move personnel between now and the first game of the regular season in order to put together the best fit.

More photos » by Tom Uhlman - AP

15 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals' rookie center Jonathan Luigs, right, blocks for quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan as they run a play during football practice in Cincinnati on Friday June 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

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PFT's Mike Florio has issue with Bengals offensive line coach, who is a co-director for a youth football camp in Bloomington, Illinois and asking rookies to attend the camp to help. Florio writes that "it’s no different than Browns coach Eric Mangini’s magic bus to Hartford," because, as he references a Randy Kindred piece, “Alexander has made it a tradition for Bengals rookies to work the camp.”

The problem with the wording is that not all Bengals rookies are asked to attend. It's just rookies on the offensive line, as evident that Kindred's piece references only Andre Smith and Jonathan Luigs. In fact, if Florio reads the next sentence in Kindred's piece, he'll see that "every lineman to eventually play for him in Cincinnati has come to Bloomington as a rookie." Now, this is a problem? Now, we're comparing this to the "Mangini magic bus"? Technically, yea, it is different. Only two Bengals rookies attended. Furthermore, the bus ride was went ten boring hours. Luigs and Smith drove across one state (technically across two state lines... Ohio/Indiana and Indiana/Illinois). Furthermore, look at the quotes by unnamed sources regarding the story on Mangini.

• "It’s a sophisticated form of hazing."
• "It’s voluntary, [but] it’s B.S. voluntary,"
• "That’s f–ked up."

So let's recap. It wasn't a 10-hour bus ride. It wasn't all of the rookies -- just Alexander's rookies. And let's be honest, wouldn't we, and everyone else in the world, rather have Smith hanging out with Alexander than doing nothing before signing his rookie contract? So as Officer Barbrady says, "Move along folks, nothing to see here."

The Cincinnati Bengals released their 2009 Training Camp schedule on Wednesday -- the most boring day of the week without Lost. The first session starts Friday, July 31, with their concluding session held on Monday August 17 (aka, best Monday of the year). The team's Intrasquad Scrimmage kickoffs at 6:30 p.m. on August 7. The Black-Orange Mock Game takes place the following afternoon.

Gil Brandt is liking the Bengals in 2009. His main argument is that the Bengals "had more starters lost to injury last year than any other team in the league." I bet that just boils those that hate it when people make excuses for Mike Brown the Bengals. The injury excuse. Is there anything worse?

Andre Smith got lost. Let's just file this under 'honest mistakes' happen and sometimes things happen.

Andre Smith’s adventurous offseason took another unexpected turn Tuesday. This time, the Outland Trophy winner and Cincinnati Bengals’ first-round draft pick got back on track relatively soon. | NFL page

Scheduled to help with the Midwest Lineman’s Camp at Illinois Wesleyan, the No. 6 overall pick out of Alabama took the long route to Bloomington. Ultimately, his search led him to a gas station.

“I said, ‘How far is Bloomington?’” said Smith, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound offensive tackle. “They said, ‘Which Bloomington?’ I went, ‘Ahhh, don’t tell me that.’”

It turns out Smith was closer to Bloomington, Ind., than our Bloomington. Thus, he arrived at IWU at 4:30 p.m., just as the second of Tuesday’s three sessions wrapped up.

If the Bengals are looking at free agency for any offensive linemen that will provide immediate help, then, ironically, it's probably Levi Jones.

Carson Palmer offers a little bit of advice for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo:

"If Tony just follows what he says and listens to him, he's going to have a huge year," Palmer said during an ESPN Radio interview.

The Bengals are one of five teams in which their season could hinge on how their rookies perform.

Like the Bills, the Bengals have a certain wide receiver who commands a great deal of attention and is presumed to hold the key to the team's fortunes. But Chad Ochocinco is a smaller part of the equation than the Bengals' offensive line. And the line absolutely needs first-round choice Andre Smith to be ready to step in at offensive tackle. Carson Palmer has to have have sufficient time to make the most of Ochocinco, newcomer Laveranues Coles and other receivers.

Smith is dogged by questions about his immaturity and there is speculation that he might not be under contract soon enough to participate fully in training camp, which figures to be an absolute must given the steep learning curve for an NFL offensive tackle. The Bengals' defense needs a big year from second-rounder Rey Maualuga, a big-hitting linebacker who should help against the run.

James Walker wrote "10 things that I learned" during his minicamp wrap. Three of them were about the Bengals -- team getting meaner, Chad Johnson is back, as is Carson Palmer (in a much different way).

10. Bengals are getting meaner

Analysis: Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis set the tone early with his team motto for 2009: "Fight back!" It's fitting because the Bengals have a lot to prove this year, especially with newfound expectations. The offense is trying to prove it can return to form with a healthy quarterback in Carson Palmer, and the defense is out to prove last year's solid performance wasn't a fluke. The result was multiple team fights and plenty of shoving and jawing during Cincinnati's three-day minicamp. When I joked with several players afterward that they're fighting too early and need to save it for cameras when "Hard Knocks" films training camp, one player hinted it was just the beginning. As long as no injuries occur, this could be good in the long run when the Bengals play tough rivals such as the Ravens and Steelers.

4. Ochocinco is back

Analysis: Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco did something different this offseason: He stayed quiet. No one, including the Bengals, knew what he was up to until recently. It turns out Ochocinco worked extremely hard in Los Angeles to get back to his Pro Bowl form. Minus a few drops, he was clearly the most explosive receiver that I've seen in all four minicamps this offseason. Against a pretty good Bengals secondary, Ochocinco got behind the defense plenty of times for big plays and ran cat-quick short and intermediate routes. If he remains this motivated throughout the entire season, Ochocinco could be a problem for opponents once again this year.

3. Palmer is healthy, sharp

Analysis: As Ochocinco often says, there is not a No. 85 without No. 9. It wouldn't matter how hard Ochocinco worked this offseason if Palmer cannot remain healthy and upright this season. Palmer says his elbow is 100 percent after rest and rehab. The Bengals are being cautious by keeping him on a pitch count, but the football is accurate and zips like usual when he does throw in practices. Palmer has the potential to impact the AFC North more than any injured player from 2008, which is why many feel the Bengals have sleeper potential.

There's other things about the Steelers, Browns and Ravens. But, yea.

Carson Palmer broke into Pete Prisco's "Top 50".

Coming off shoulder problems, he's back throwing again, which is why he's this high. When he's healthy, he might be even higher. Bashers take note: Brady stays in the second spot coming off his injury, so Palmer stays this high.

For those of you that are newer to the site, one of my biggest pet peeves are lists about individual players. God, I hate them. There's nothing more useless than a list. Nothing supports it with substance, other than opinion. I don't have a problem with people that do them. That's their gig, their thing. Still I hate them. And while you read about my total disdain about lists, please don't avoid the fact that I'll reference other people's lists all the time. It makes me a better person for it. Clashing with things that I hate. Whatever.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis will be on hand (and is a speaker) Saturday while London High School honors native Dick LeBeau.